IW: Chapter 284 - Takamae Ann Applies to Join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts!
[The Famous Battle of the Renowned Phantom Thieves of Hearts!]
[Shocking! Stealing the Heart's Desires, an Oddity in the Phantom Thief World!]
[Kamoshida's Crimes, are the Phantom Thieves of Hearts Good or Bad?]
[Officer Sato Miwako of the Metropolitan Police Department Announces Focused Pursuit of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts!]
Reports about the Phantom Thieves of Hearts were like a traffic magnet.
Now, every news page was completely dominated by the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
Mainly because they were audacious enough.
They uploaded a video of themselves stealing someone's inner desires to a video website.
Many people didn't believe in such an extraordinary existence, thinking it was staged.
However, with Kamoshida's confession, this matter was pushed to its peak.
Discussions about people's inner desires also became increasingly frequent.
This sudden occurrence was indeed surprising to many.
But most people felt it was just a gimmick.
How could one possibly infiltrate someone else's inner world?!
"Bai Ye-kun, look, I'm on the front page!"
Eriri excitedly held up the newspaper and placed it in front of Bai Ye.
She had become famous.
Though in a way she hadn't expected.
Previously, Eriri hoped to gain recognition in the manga world.
To shed the title of an 18+ manga artist and one day become a mainstream manga artist.
But now, before that was realized, she was on the front page for theft instead.
"You should have awakened your Persona by now, right?"
Bai Ye ignored the excited Eriri.
Since appearing in the newspaper, she had mentioned this matter many times today.
No matter how patient he was, he was now somewhat annoyed.
After entering the Otherworld Navigation, Kato Megumi, Eriri, and Kasumigaoka Utaha all gained a special power.
"Indeed, it's a very mysterious power."
"But before that, Bai Ye-kun, haven't you forgotten something? The girl who was involved in that incident last time."
That girl was accidentally drawn into that incident.
It seemed that girl had also learned their identities.
Speaking of which, it was all Eriri's fault, that idiot!
Thinking of this, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't help but look at Eriri, who was still in an excited state.
"Why are you looking at me like that?!"
Eriri noticed Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze.
Her tone was somewhat fierce, and even her characteristic fangs were showing.
The more she tried to appear unyielding, the more it indicated Eriri's inner unease at the moment.
For Eriri, she knew that this matter was indeed greatly related to her.
If she hadn't exposed them earlier, the other party would never have known their identities.
"Let's not worry about it for now. That girl is also a Persona user; we don't need to be concerned."
From their previous conversation, Bai Ye was not in a hurry.
Takamae Ann.
What surprised Bai Ye last time was encountering her there.
"But she proposed to join us."
Kasumigaoka Utaha was also somewhat worried.
Even with a Persona, she could sense danger from that woman.
That's right!
This woman was definitely a threat.
If she were allowed to join, her own threat would be too great.
"I haven't agreed yet, have I?"
Takamae Ann wanted to join the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
Bai Ye understood why.
She didn't have many friends at school, and last time they worked together to solve Kamoshida's problem.
This also made Takamae Ann extremely interested in the matter.
So, taking advantage of that opportunity, she proposed to join.
However, Bai Ye refused.
"But I thought you really wanted to agree before!"
Eriri mumbled.
It was a wonder Bai Ye had the nerve to say that.
If she hadn't been mistaken earlier, Bai Ye seemed quite willing, didn't he?
"Even you noticed?"
Bai Ye's tone held a hint of surprise.
This tone, however, annoyed Eriri greatly.
"What do you mean, 'even I noticed'?!
Eriri just didn't understand.
Why was it called 'even I noticed'? Shouldn't she have noticed?
"He means you're an idiot, and it's surprising that even an idiot like you noticed!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha added a blunt remark.
Wasn't Bai Ye clearly talking about Eriri?
Speaking of which, Bai Ye's earlier performance was obvious enough.
Otherwise, Eriri really wouldn't have noticed.
This was also why Kasumigaoka Utaha was wary.
Bai Ye seemed to have refused, but in reality, he still wanted to agree.
Thinking this way, that woman was very dangerous.
The main thing was that Bai Ye was two-timing.
Wasn't having her enough?
Thinking this, Kasumigaoka Utaha also felt a little melancholic.
"Bai Ye-kun!!"
Eriri was on the verge of exploding.
Her fangs bared, she was just short of biting Bai Ye.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha said that, how can you blame it on me? I didn't say anything."
"But that's what you meant! Don't think I'm an idiot!"
Eriri didn't believe Bai Ye's excuse.
"Actually, I was just a little surprised. Eriri, you should have noticed that the reason I didn't agree was mainly to save your face, right?
After all, you were seen through by her. If I had agreed and she joined, wouldn't you be very awkward?"
Bai Ye wore a 'I'm doing this for your sake' expression.
This immediately fooled Eriri.
She was actually wondering if what Bai Ye said was true.
It was indeed her who slipped up, and then she was caught by the other party, and then Takamae Ann took the opportunity to propose joining.
At that moment, Eriri was very embarrassed.
Later, Bai Ye rejected Takamae Ann for her.
Could it be that everything Bai Ye did was truly for her?!
Her small brain couldn't handle so much thought.
"Say thank you."
"Thank you."
Eriri instinctively replied, but after seeing Kasumigaoka Utaha's playful gaze and Kato Megumi's sympathetic expression, Eriri suddenly realized.
She!
Damn it!
She had been tricked by that scoundrel Bai Ye!
What did he mean, 'for her sake'?!
Bai Ye's previous meaning was clearly that she was too stupid.
And then she was stupid again and even thanked Bai Ye.
Eriri angrily stomped her foot.
Raising her arms, her fists, like whirling circles, aimed to hit Bai Ye but only struck air.
Bai Ye raised his hand to block Eriri's forehead, feeling a little troubled.
How could she have figured it out?
Wasn't Eriri the easiest to trick?
"Actually, I did consider you a little, Eriri. Don't you know that if the other party knows about this, we'll be at risk of exposure?"
Bai Ye didn't continue to tease Eriri.
He wouldn't have done this before.
It was just that Eriri was too annoying today.
So Bai Ye thought about tricking her once.
"Oh right, if we're exposed, won't we be arrested?!"
Now, the front pages were all about their Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
Eriri felt as if she was about to be arrested at any moment.
Would she end up on the front page again in another way?
"Actually, there's another way."
"What?"
"Eriri, go assassinate her!"
"…"
Are you perhaps overestimating me?
Eriri looked at Bai Ye blankly, still wondering what solution Bai Ye had come up with for her.
And it turned out to be letting her assassinate the other party?
What a joke!
She hadn't even killed a chicken in her entire life.
"Just kidding, I was just saying that. You don't have to worry about her exposing us. Didn't you see how interested she was in this matter before?"
Now, they just needed to deal with her harassment.
Bai Ye wasn't worried that Takamae Ann would expose the matter.
"So, we'll just go to school as usual?"
After doing such a big thing and appearing on so many newspaper front pages, it was impossible for them not to be excited.
Even the usually calm Kato Megumi felt a slight flutter in her heart today.
"Of course, we'll go to school as usual. Do you want to go every day?"
Bai Ye rubbed his forehead in distress.
Eriri was a bit too excited, wasn't she?
"I was just asking. You can give the orders from now on."
This operation indeed made Eriri feel an adrenaline rush.
After doing something like this, drawing seemed less exciting.
However, she also knew that she had to listen to Bai Ye.
"Bai Ye-kun, we might be watched very closely from now on. We need to be careful with our actions."
Kato Megumi reminded him.
They might not have had much fame at the beginning, with their only fame coming from Bai Ye.
But now, with their appearance on the front page, they had attracted the attention of the Metropolitan Police Department.
They would still send out calling cards for their future actions.
This would undoubtedly be very troublesome.
So, they absolutely had to be careful in their future endeavors.
"Kato, I've thought about everything you said. I won't let you all get into danger."
Bai Ye said seriously.
Of course, he wouldn't let Kato Megumi and the others get into danger with him.
Besides, he was one of the biggest dangers in this world, wasn't he?
However, future actions would indeed require meticulous planning and could no longer be like this.
Meanwhile, at the Metropolitan Police Department.
Due to the appearance of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, Officer Sato Miwako had been working overtime for a long time, looking at the pitifully few documents before her.
She felt that the amount of hair she had lost in the past few days was equal to her entire loss from last year.
If this continued, she estimated she would go bald.
But ever since Officer Sato Miwako declared that she would definitely arrest the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, this matter had become one of her top priorities.
So she dared not relax for a moment!
"Miwako, still working overtime?!"
Miyamoto Yumi, holding a late-night snack, curiously walked up to Officer Sato Miwako and peered at the case file.
"You're really taking this small group of thieves so seriously? Speaking of which, aren't you from the Criminal Investigation Division?"
She said, placing the late-night snack next to Officer Sato Miwako: "Here, eat."
"Thank you."
Officer Sato Miwako sniffed. The aroma made her mouth water. She hadn't eaten much all day because of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
Now, smelling the scent of barbecue, she felt that other matters could temporarily be put aside.
Leaning back in her chair, Officer Sato Miwako took out a grilled squid skewer, eating it all in one bite, a look of satisfaction flashing across her face.
"You don't have to thank me. Your admirers asked me to deliver this, and I ate some myself!"
Miyamoto Yumi said with a giggle.
Many people wanted to take this opportunity to show their appreciation to Officer Sato Miwako today.
After all, this was a golden opportunity to gain favor.
Of course, they couldn't let such an opportunity slip away.
But no one dared to approach.
Mainly because Officer Sato Miwako had been in a low mood all day.
Anyone who got close to her was scared stiff.
So, this task fell to Miyamoto Yumi.
She didn't mind; if there were benefits, of course, she would come.
"Admirers?"
Did she have admirers?
Officer Sato Miwako found it strange; she hadn't known.
Shaking her head, she stopped thinking about it.
"Miwako, how is it? Any leads?"
"No, it's precisely because there are no leads that I'm so frustrated. According to Kamoshida's confession, he admitted to all his crimes, but when we asked about the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, he knew absolutely nothing!"
Miwako found it very odd.
Kamoshida, as the person involved, had no impression of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.
This also meant her original plan wouldn't work.
"What about the video? I heard this group even uploaded a video of how they stole things."
This was simply outrageous.
Even Kaito Kid and the Cats Eye sisters wouldn't dare, would they?
"It was technically processed; we can't crack it at all."
Whether it was technically processed or something else, there was no information whatsoever.
In fact, Miwako also regretted it a little.
She had exaggerated somewhat before.
She should have known better than to boast earlier.
Now, she was in a bind.
But they definitely had to be caught.
It was just that no one knew when their next crime would be.
If they never showed up again and she couldn't catch them, how would she save face?
"Then why are you in such a hurry? There are so many unsolved cases; you don't have to rush so much."
"Yumi!!!"
Officer Sato Miwako felt that she absolutely had to correct Miyamoto Yumi's attitude.
How could she be like this?!
What did she mean,'so many unsolved cases'?
Her idea somehow felt similar to Inspector Megure's.
If it weren't for detectives, cases would never be solved.
This was not what Officer Sato Miwako wanted to see.
They were police officers.
But solving cases relied on detectives; how could that be right?!
Restoring the glory of the Metropolitan Police Department was her undeniable duty!
Seeming to realize she had said the wrong thing, Miyamoto Yumi awkwardly stuck out her tongue and said, "I just don't want you to be under so much pressure!"
"I'm not under pressure! On the contrary, I'm full of motivation. Just thinking about facing an opponent like this…"
Actually, Officer Sato Miwako was worried about not being able to catch them.
She was quite motivated, as long as the other party continued to appear.